LOOKING BACK: EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OF CHEMISTS AND THEIR HISTORY (1, 2)
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66 Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007)
This issue of the Bulletin is dedicated to the founders of the Division of the
History of Chemistry of the American Chemical Society, Edgar Fahs Smith
and Charles A. Browne.
LOOKING BACK: EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OF
CHEMISTS AND THEIR HISTORY (1, 2)
James J. Bohning, Lehigh University
Introduction When Forris Jewett Moore published his little book
on chemical history in 1918, it was the second Ameri-
It is duly and dually fitting that we are here in Chicago to can text on the subject (6, 7) and it showed him to be
celebrate the eighty-fifth birthday of the Division of the “widely read, witty and lucid (8).” His introduction is an
History of Chemistry (HIST) of the American Chemical eloquent rationale for studying the history of chemistry
Society (ACS). First of all, we are actually a year late in that is worthy of reading even today. He concluded by
doing so, but then we are in good company because the saying (7):
great Chicago World’s Fair designed to celebrate the first As we study how man’s knowledge of nature has
voyage of Columbus to the new world was also a year broadened and deepened with the years, we acquire
late, opening to the public for the year 1893 (3, 4). But a better understanding of the trend of thought in our
unlike the Great White Way on the Chicago Lake front own times, and of the exact bearing of each new
that was mostly destroyed by fires within a year of its discovery upon the old but ever-recurring problems
closing, HIST has endured for 85 years, not without its of the science.
ups and downs, but nevertheless a viable and venerable By the early 1920s formal courses in the history of
institution of chemists, by chemists, and for chemists. chemistry were appearing in various curricula, either as
Secondly, HIST’s origin is intimately connected to North- an elective or a requirement (9). Later, many advocates
western University and an ACS meeting on its campus felt, as Moore did, that a knowledge of the history of
in the Chicago suburb of Evanston in 1920. chemistry was in part what distinguished a trained chem-
ist from an educated chemist (10) and that the history of
Chemists have had a long standing interest in their
chemistry could also be used to develop an appreciation
history. One of the earliest texts appeared roughly fifty
of chemistry in the nonchemist as well (11). At the same
years after Priestley and Lavoisier ushered in the begin-
time, the Belgian George Sarton, who had founded the
nings of modern chemistry, when Thomas Thomson
journal Isis, was establishing the broader topic of the
published his two-volume set in 1830 (5). As chemistry
history of science as a formal field of study in the United
found its way as a serious discipline in the late nineteenth
States (12).
century, many teachers of introductory chemistry courses
saw the history of chemistry as a way to humanize the
course and sustain student interest with anecdotal stories Northwestern University (1920)
that were great fun but often irrelevant if not errone-
ous. Thoughts of a formal discipline and the educational value
of the history of chemistry were the furthest from theBull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007) 67
minds of Edgar Fahs Smith and Charles A. Browne when and Browne sat listening to H. P. Talbot discuss “The
they came to Chicago in 1920 for the 60th national meet- Relation of Educational Institutions to the Industries,” but
ing of the ACS. There were a number of enticements to both men were eager to share their common love—the
attend this meeting, which began on Monday, September history of chemistry. Browne contends that the afternoon
6. While it was called a “Reconstruction Meeting” and was very hot, but the Patten Gymnasium was supposedly
labeled with the slogan “Increased Production Through “wonderfully lighted and well-ventilated.”
Chemistry,” the advanced publicity seemed to focus
more on the entertainment committee and its “unique Nevertheless, somewhere after W. A. Patrick, the
and delightful program.” second speaker, started talking about “Some Uses of
Silica Gels,” Smith and Browne decided to abandon
Under the watchful eye of the honorary chairman, their colleagues in the gymnasium and retired to “a shady
Julius Stieglitz, the organizing committee promised seat on the lake front,” where they spent over an hour
chemists that social features “punctuated the program in conversation. Smith, at age 66, had just retired as
everywhere.” There was a “restful nook known as the Provost of the University of Pennsylvania and intended
[Chicago] Chemists’ Club, where soft lights glow[ed] to devote his remaining years to continuing his historical
through alabaster lamps and deep-cushioned chairs research (15). He had heard of Browne’s collection of
invite[d] reactions of repose. At all times delegates autographed letters, prints, and books and wanted to find
[were] welcome to the portals of this retreat of the out more about this younger chemist and his preservation
Knights of the Retort.” Arrangements were also made of historical memorabilia. Most of the time together,
for the women guests, as special buses would be avail- however, was focused on Joseph Priestley and included
able to transport them to Marshall Field & Company on Priestley’s bookplate, the Priestley house in Northumber-
Tuesday and Sears, Roebuck & Company on Wednesday. land, Pennsylvania, and Priestley artifacts (16).
Not all women were there as guests, for the Chicago
Section hosted a special dinner for the “professional Before the
women in attendance,” something which had never been two returned to
done before. the gymnasium,
they discussed the
After opening ceremonies in the Gold Room of possible forma-
the Congress Hotel, special trains would be the “magic tion of a Section of
carpets on which members would be borne…to North- Historical Chem-
western University” in Evanston. The committee offered istry (17). Smith
assurances that all speeches would be finished by 4:30 later said that he
p.m. to “make way” for a “combined men and women’s considered this the
entertainment and reception, garden fete, and beach very first meeting
party.” In the evening there would be “more recreation of HIST, with two
in the [Patten] gym in which various lighter qualities of members sitting
chemistry would bubble to the top. All these diversions under a shade tree
were offered as a substitute for that indoor sport tradition- on the shores of
ally known as a smoker. All the world of the outdoors Lake Michigan
is open to the devotees of Lady Nicotine as well as the (18). Even after they Edgar Fahs Smith
companionship of the daughters of Eve (13).” returned to the gym-
nasium, Browne and Smith continued their discussions,
This was the setting for the first meeting of HIST.
reflecting on their student days at Göttingen among other
Charles A. Browne, age 50, the chief chemist in charge
matters, and an intense friendship had begun.
of the New York Sugar Trade Laboratory and Chairman
of the ACS Division of Sugar Chemistry (14), was told
by ACS Secretary Charles L. Parsons that Edgar Fahs Discussions about “Cranks”
Smith was anxious to meet him. It must have been in-
Three weeks after their Evanston meeting, Smith wrote
teresting for Browne to receive such a message, for he
his first letter to Browne on September 27 (19):
had learned his first chemistry from a Smith textbook
while a student at Williams College. During the Tuesday I was happy in meeting you. I learned so much from
afternoon session held in the Patten Gymnasium, Smith you that it gave me a great deal of food for thought.
I found on my desk a letter from a gentleman in68 Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007)
Chicago who says there is a movement on foot to In the years to come HIST would act similarly, often
form a Section of the American Association for the holding joint sessions with other ACS technical divisions
Advancement of Science (AAAS) to be known as to reflect that specific technical interest.
the Section on the History of Science. He told me to
write to a certain gentlemen and lay before him the Section L was not formally recognized by the AAAS
advantages I thought would come to those who would Council until the Toronto meeting in December, 1921.
go into such a section. Brasch, who was now secretary of the section, noted that
I really don’t know what to do. It seemed to me, after the history of science movement was growing steadily
conversing with you, that probably without forming in the United States and that many educators were now
a Section of the American Chemical Society that we, recognizing its place in science and engineering cur-
that is those interested in the history of chemistry, ricula (23):
might make a point of meeting at some hour conve-
nient to all whenever we attend the meetings of the If we are to enter a new epoch of science teaching,
Society. I wish you would let me know your thoughts and give more emphasis to the humanistic element
on the matter. in our sciences, it is evidently time now to consider
the matter. Science, that which we love to call pure
Browne’s response, dated the next day, reiterated some of science, has been too long dominated by the ulterior
the comments he shared with Smith in Illinois (19): motive of materialism.
In view of the interest in the History of Science, it It is doubtful that this attitude was part of the thinking
seems to me that a Section of the AAAS to be known of Browne and Smith, but they were generally on target
as the Section of the History of Science might have
with what was happening in the broader history of science
a promising future. Among the members of the
American Chemical Society there are many who are community. During the fall of 1920, Smith and Browne
interested in the historical side of chemistry, but who corresponded a number of times, exchanging ideas about
like myself, are at present so bound up with other sec- Priestley as well as the acquisition of eighteenth and
tions, or divisions, that they are not in an immediate nineteenth century chemistry books. Smith encouraged
position to renounce their allegiance to these. In fact, Browne to “write up the alchemical period in America”
historical chemistry is so directly related to all these after Browne expressed surprise when his study of early
sections and divisions, that it is not independent, but records showed “the extent to which alchemy was pur-
a part of these, so your plan of not having a separate sued in early American colonies and even down to the
section but a sort of informal gathering or symposium
middle of the last century (24).”
which will not conflict with other meetings has much
to recommend it. In December 1920, Smith was elected President of
Smith’s concern about a History of Science Section of the American Chemical Society for 1921 (25), and his
the AAAS was tempered by his perception that a history busy schedule prevented him from visiting Browne in
of chemistry group should operate only on an informal New York to see the “treasures” which Browne admitted
basis. The first suggestion for the AAAS to form a his- were “picked up in very random hap-hazard collecting
tory of science group came from Frederick E. Brasch (26).” Smith was also conducting research on the alkali
in 1915 (20). By the time of the Chicago ACS meeting tungstates and admitted to Browne “that I am at work
in September, 1920, Isis had resumed publication, the from morning until night, and my relief comes when I
American Historical Society had conducted two history turn to my old books and things of that kind (27).” He
of science sessions, and an organizing committee headed told Browne he thought it would be a “splendid thing” if
by Brasch and including George Sarton was preparing for [Browne] were to get out his book on [John] Winthrop,
the first meeting of Section L in Chicago in December, Jr. because “I know with what care you do this historical
1920 (21). Thus both HIST and Section L were organized work…and it would be a great contribution (28).”
in the same city in the same year (22). Browne and Smith met briefly at the Chemists’
Section L grappled with the same problem plaguing Club in New York on February 11 and March 17, 1921,
Browne and Smith: namely, how to conduct sessions but only had a few minutes to discuss historical matters.
in the history of mathematics, for example, when there Smith was the principal speaker in February, and Browne
already was an AAAS Section of Mathematics. They found his description of a gradual “emancipation” from
resolved the issue by having the more technical history a narrow organic specialist of the 1870s to one with a
sessions in the parent group (i.e. mathematics) and the broader view encompassing many branches of chemistry
more general papers of broader interest in Section L (22). done “so pleasantly and with so much good humor andBull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007) 69
charm that everyone was pleased (16).” At the March The organizing committee speculated that (36):
meeting Browne recorded that the speaker, Irving The piece de resistance will be the banquet, free to
Langmuir, was “handsome as an Adonis with his boy- members, to be held at Bausch & Lomb’s, after which
ish charming manner [and] made a brilliant impression the company will furnish high class entertainment. At
(29). Browne also shook hands with “old Dr. [Charles this banquet, it is hoped much of the formality will be
F.] Chandler, who in spite of his 84 years is always one dispensed with and the ladies will be in evidence.
of the boys (16).” [It was later noted that a “sorry lot of chemists” had to
Early in April, 1921 Browne passed through Phila- leave at 10:30 p.m. to catch the New York train, thus forc-
delphia and telephoned Smith from the train station, only ing them to miss some “of the best numbers,” including
to find that Smith had just left his office. Writing to Smith the “Oriental dance number (37)”].
a few days later, Browne described the two volumes of Attendance records for Rochester show 806 ACS
Bibliotheca Chemico Mathematica that he had wanted members and 428 guests; 289 Divisional and Sectional
to show Smith in Philadelphia (30). As a “descriptive papers were presented on Wednesday and Thursday at
account of some 13,000 books upon chemistry, physics the Mechanics
and other exact sciences,” Browne claimed “it was the Institute at 55
most fascinating work which I have ever read,” and South Plymouth
promised to bring it with him to the Rochester meeting Avenue (38). As
at the end of April (31). President of the
On April 11 Smith acknowledged Browne’s letter Society Smith
and noted that (32): presided at the
ACS Council
As I write these lines it dawns on me that it is our
Meeting held
bounden duty as ‘cranks’ to try and corral all the
‘cranks’ at some convenient hour and place when o n M o n d a y,
we are in Rochester and talk over our hobbies. I April 25. While
am having my Priestley bookplate copied, and shall he waited for
bring some copies of it with me for distribution to any ACS Secretary
‘cranks’ who may wish a copy. I have a couple of Charles L. Par-
other little things which I could easily carry with me, sons to return
and I think I shall do so. I beg of you to consider for with some papers
a moment whether we can’t get together. I imagine he had forgotten,
that perhaps a half a dozen men will be found who are
Smith told the
interested in the history of our science and we might Charles A. Browne
113 councilors that
be able to have a pleasant symposium.
he was forming a section of the history of chemistry and
Browne replied that Smith’s suggestion (33): invited them to attend a meeting on Thursday (39). He
..to get together at the Rochester meeting is a good again used the term “cranks” to describe those chemists
one, and if there is any gap in the program, we ought who had a historical interest. This meeting does not ap-
to make use of it. I will try to bring along a few curi- pear on any formal program for the meeting, and from
osities in the way of autographed letters, etc….which the dates of the Smith/Browne correspondence there was
will not take up much room. apparently no advance announcement of this group’s
Browne was also going to have copies made of the nega- meeting. In addition to the Council meeting, the most
tive of the Priestley bookplate in his possession (34). obvious time for Smith to make a public announcement
of this meeting would have been when Smith presided
at the opening general session on Tuesday.
The Rochester Meeting (April 1921)
Instead of the half-dozen people expected by Smith,
The 61st national meeting of the ACS was held in Roch- the audience ranged from 20 to 50, depending on who was
ester, New York, from April, 26 – 29, 1921. The social doing the reporting (40). Smith and Browne dominated
aspects so prevalent at the Chicago meeting were also in the meeting with the historical items they had brought
evidence at Rochester, although the Rochester planning to Rochester. Smith showed a 1671 alchemical work in
committee “had been instructed to reduce entertainment Latin which concluded with the words “All Honor and
features to a minimum” after the Chicago meeting (35). Glory to God, the Keeper of the Earth,” and he recalled70 Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007)
how Sir William Henry Perkin concluded a lecture to historical monographs, but Smith “feared the interest
students at the University of Pennsylvania by lifting up in historical chemistry in America was not sufficiently
his hands and exclaiming, “Praise be to God to whom widespread to create a demand for such monographs
belongs all Glory (41).” Smith also exhibited autographs (41).” C. E. Coates asked whether the section should
and photographs, and he discussed early chemistry books be organized as other ACS sections and divisions. Ac-
by two Harvard professors, John Gorham and John White cording to Browne (41):
Webster, who had been hanged for murder. Smith thought it better not to force the movement, but
But it was Browne who contributed the most to this to let things develop freely and spontaneously. Those
who were interested could convene at each meeting
meeting. Not surprisingly, he spent some time talking
for a friendly exchange of views; if any member had
about John Winthrop and the alchemist George Starkey, something of interest to show, let him bring it along;
who graduated from Harvard in 1646 (42). He also the program of each meeting would thus shape it-
mentioned Amos Eaton (a pupil of Benjamin Silliman), self…and would be of more interest than a prearranged
Joel B. Nott (Union College) and Frederick Accum, schedule of papers.
“who did more than any other chemist of his time to
The Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
popularize chemistry (41).” In addition to autographs and
reported that (45):
photographs from his collection, Browne had the most
unusual item at this meeting—a lock of John Dalton’s The meeting was a great success, and it was agreed
hair (43)! that without any formal organization, such a sym-
posium should be planned as one of the features of
Only one other person had something to exhibit. future conventions of the Society. For the training
Charles L. Parsons, the venerable Society Secretary who of American chemists, one of the things needed is a
probably had some advance notice of the meeting from proper appreciation of the historical and human side
Smith, had a copy of a rare early work by John Dalton of our great science.
that he shared at the meeting.
The New York Meeting (September 1921)
The others who are recorded as speaking did so
spontaneously. Frank Dains of the University of Kan- The next meeting of the ACS in the fall of 1921 was held
sas described the library collection of chemical books in New York City (46). This time there was a formal but
at Transylvania University in Kentucky. Well known terse notice on the program (47):
as an organic chemist, Dains had presented a paper on President Edgar Fahs Smith and kindred spirits will
“Applied Chemistry in Prehistoric and Classical Times” meet Friday afternoon, September 9, in Room 301,
at the AAAS Section L organizational meeting in De- Mines, to discuss their hobbies.
cember 1920 (22). F. O. Rice, then a young professor
It was shrewdly scheduled to follow the inaugural meet-
at New York University (NYU), who would later be
ing of the Section of Chemical Education (CHED), which
known for his work on kinetics and photochemistry,
Smith had organized (48). After the CHED sessions
talked about NYU professor John W. Draper and the first
ended, the “members adjourned to attend the “sympo-
photographic portrait of a human face. An unidentified
sium” on the History of Chemistry (49). (It was a preview
“younger member” called attention to the “forgotten life
of the close relationship these two groups would have in
and work” of the Spanish chemist Andrès Manuel Del
the future, especially because of the role the history of
Rio who discovered vanadium. Edward Curtis Franklin
chemistry would play both formally and informally in
of Stanford University described the recent book by his
chemical education.)
Stanford colleague John M. Stillman on Paracelsus (44).
Forris Jewett Moore, who taught a well known course Swelled by the CHED attendees, more than 100
on the history of chemistry at MIT, commented on the people crowded into the room scheduled for this “sym-
value of studying the history of chemistry, and his views posium” (50). “This proved to be most interesting, on
were supported by George Frankforter of the University account of the many rare portraits, books, letters, and
of Minnesota. pamphlets which were shown (49).” In addition to Smith
and Browne (who surprised many by speaking about
Although this ended the “informal” presentations of
alchemists in New England), other speakers included
what can be considered the second meeting of HIST, there
Ernest Cohen (University of Utrecht), who spoke on
was additional discussion about a more formal organiza-
the teaching of the history of chemistry in Dutch uni-
tion. Dains wondered whether the ACS might publish
versities, a Dr. Adolf (Shantung Christian College) whoBull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007) 71
“gave an interesting account of chemistry among the the meetings he attended (34).” Smith urged members
Chinese,” and Professor K. C. Pandyra who “discussed to collect and preserve historical material, and hardly a
the Hindu’s contributions to chemistry, both ancient and meeting passed without Smith giving portraits, books,
modern (49).” photographs, and letters to other members, enlarging
and often starting collections with his generosity. L. C.
It was obvious that this history of chemistry, even
Newell emphasized in 1932 that HIST (50):
on an informal basis, was very popular; and the decision
was made before adjournment to form a probationary ..owes its inception, development, standards and per-
Section of the History of Chemistry of the ACS (17, 50). manency to the wisdom, generosity, intelligence and
A similar action had been taken in the CHED sessions culture of our incomparably beloved patron.
when a motion was “made and seconded that the Section But it was Charles Browne who predicted that “if we
be formally organized (51).” Thus CHED and HIST could only acquire something of his faith and spirit, the
were “officially” started as formal organizations on the future of the Division would be secure (34).”
same day, and Edgar Fahs Smith was the first chairman What have we accomplished in the 85 years since
of each group. Smith exhorted us to study chemistry in America? Do
we have enough of Smith’s faith and spirit to carry
The Legacy of Edgar Fahs Smith the division to its centennial in 2021 and beyond?
To answer that question, we need to examine the
Smith may have been enamored by Priestley, but his achievements of the division, which are substantial
focus was on Priestley in America (52). Even as early considering that HIST has always been a Division
as the Rochester meeting, Smith made it clear that the with a very small membership.
principal aim of the history of chemistry group should
be to look at the history of chemistry in America. Ac- HIST on Probation
cording to Browne (34):
Even though Smith was president of the ACS in
This, in his opinion, was to be the chief, although by 1921 and 1922, there was no favoritism shown his little
no means the exclusive aim of the section, and he was
group, which still had to pass through the standard pro-
always anxious to have a goodly number of papers
bationary period before it could join the other divisions
upon some phase of chemistry in America upon our
programs. of the Society, which it did successfully in 1927, a year
before Smith’s death (54). There was the necessary
It was indirectly seconded in Rochester by the schedule of papers at each national meeting, with 135
principal ACS founder Charles F. Chandler, who gave a read during the 11 meetings of the probationary years.
public lecture on “Chemistry in America” at the Roches- Not surprisingly, Smith and Browne dominated the
ter meeting. “With a firm and steady voice, and youth- program: giving papers, continuing to bring books and
ful bearing,” [Chandler was then 84] Chandler traced artifacts, and encouraging others do so as well. True to
the history of the ACS and American chemistry. He Smith’s exhortation, much of the early programming
received a lengthy standing ovation, after which Smith focused on American chemistry, in particular the writing
presented him with “a beautifully bound” copy of his of the biographies of American chemists, many of which
Ph.D. thesis from Göttingen that he had written sixty were published. Not only were rare books and artifacts
years earlier (53). part of the HIST sessions, but HIST arranged for special
Browne supported this idea, commenting years later historical exhibits for the general public at almost every
that (34): national ACS meeting (55).
There is nothing better which we can do in a construc- Other activities beyond the national meeting pro-
tive way toward promoting the work of the Division gram occupied that early HIST membership as well. One
than in having always some papers upon the phases was the Priestley house in Northumberland, Pennsyl-
of the history of chemistry in America. The field of vania. Browne and Smith encouraged the construction
inquiry is so large, and so much of it unexplored, that it of the small museum at the house, and they willingly
should attract a large band of our younger members. donated their extensive collection of Priestley materials
In the years following the New York meeting, until for display. The museum was dedicated as part of the
his death in 1928, Smith’s influence was permanently Golden Anniversary celebration of the ACS in 1926, with
imprinted on the Division. Browne called attention to many HIST members in attendance (56).
“the attraction of his wonderful personality, as it filled72 Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007)
More importantly, the Society, probably under The Sidney Edelstein Era (61)
Smith’s influence, chose HIST to write its fifty-year his-
tory (57). Browne headed a committee of five that pro- Beginning in 1948, HIST would experience a dramatic
duced a separate volume of the Journal of the American reversal when Sidney M. Edelstein became the secretary,
Chemical Society that was light on the history of the so- a position he would occupy for almost 20 years. To say
ciety but heavy on the review of American contributions that Edelstein was a man of action would be an under-
to chemistry in various branches of chemistry. Browne statement at the very least, for Sidney was a person who
admitted the reviews were incomplete and hoped that liked to be at the forefront of what was happening in his
HIST would continue to expand the areas covered (58). spheres of activity. Characteristically, Sidney approached
Over the years HIST has done that in different formats, life with great enthusiasm and pursued his interests with
especially through its joint programming with other tech- some abandon once they became imbedded in his psyche.
nical divisions as anniversary years were celebrated. This included the history of chemistry, which began with
a required history of chemistry course at MIT taught
As is often the case with small organizations run
by Tenney L. Davis, an early HIST member. Edelstein
by volunteers, at any given time it is a small nucleus of
began collecting books, and in the early 1940s he visited
people who manage its affairs and keep the ship afloat.
the Smith collection at the University of Pennsylvania,
Many early HIST officers were in place for many years,
where he met the collection’s indomitable curator, Eva
presumably because of a shortage of candidates. Never-
Armstrong. He later used Armstrong as a sounding board
theless, they were dedicated to the concept of HIST and
for his purchases. When he told her that he had a chance
its programming. Smith called HIST members “cranks”
to buy an original Boyle for $20, she advised him that
and considered the collection of books and artifacts a
Smith had only paid $2 for a similar copy and that the one
hobby. When the History of Science Society (HSS) was
Sidney was contemplating was “terribly overpriced.”
formed in 1924 by Sarton and others to help preserve Isis,
a serious scholarly pursuit of scientific history was being Learning of the HIST division for the first time
born. Actually, Smith was elected the fourth president from a visitor to his New York office, Sidney attended
of HSS in 1928, but he died in May of that year before a meeting in 1947 which he said “was simply a matter
completing his term of office (59). Generally HIST did of a few people who didn’t quite seem to know what
not consider itself in that category, although some of its they wanted (62).” They reelected the current chairman,
ardent early members, like Tenny L. Davis, Henry M. Henry Leicester, and Sidney offered to be secretary. In
Leicester, Wyndham D. Miles, and Aaron J. Ihde did fit typical Edelstein fashion, Sidney took it upon himself to
that mold. More often than not, HIST members were change HIST. Sidney was a good promoter, and he did
at the end of their careers and were content just to hear not slack in that regard when it came to HIST.
papers on chemical history without taking an active role
Henry Leiscester remained as HIST chair for four
in the organization or giving a paper.
more years, until 1951 (63). Sidney reported (62):
While Smith’s death brought others to the fore, gone Between Henry Leicester and myself, we kept the
were the wonderful items he brought to the meeting. Division going. About ten to fifteen people who had
Others picked up the slack somewhat and carried on the been working in the field soon came forward. Before
tradition for many years, although in a very spotty man- I knew it, we had a small, active corps of people in the
ner. Smith’s collection remained sealed in his office for division really concerned with the history of chemistry.
three years, when, in 1931, his widow bequeathed it to I would guess we had twenty-five or thirty, maybe up
the University of Pennsylvania along with an endowment to fifty after a year or two.
to preserve and maintain it (60). The collection quickly Edelsetein ran HIST out of the New York Office of the
became the focal point of serious study in the history of Dexter Chemical Company, which he had founded. He
chemistry. Many HIST members availed themselves arranged meetings, cajoled people into giving papers, and
of its resources and gave HIST papers based on their even paid for the luncheon held at each ACS meeting.
research in the collection. But with the passing of the Sidney’s reign averaged more papers per meeting than
cadre of charter members, HIST drifted through uncertain Oesper’s, but it was spotty. In fairness to Oesper, the
times, reaching a low point during World War II when war years certainly did not help, and it should be noted
Ralph Oesper was Secretary. that there was no national ACS meeting in 1945 because
the federal government refused to grant the ACS a permit
to hold a meeting with more than 50 people. PerhapsBull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007) 73
what Sidney was most successful at was in establishing of chemistry. For this, the recipient would receive $250
symposia as a HIST way of life. and the proverbial “suitable scroll (67).”
Obviously, more symposia generated more papers, The first Dexter Award went to that long-time faith-
and the peak years for Sidney were 1957 through 1959. ful HIST member, Ralph E. Oesper. Oesper received his
During that time there were eleven symposia and 176 honor for “meritorious service and continued interest in
total papers, including those in general session. Since the field of the history of chemistry,” which at least par-
five ACS divisions were celebrating their golden anni- tially fits one of Sidney’s three criteria. It may also have
versaries in Chicago in the Fall of 1958, HIST played a smoothed over any still ruffled feathers remaining from
major role and received much attention as it programmed Sidney’s replacing Oesper as HIST Secretary (68).
symposia for the history of each division. For the first
The third recipient was that longtime and faithful
time there were joint symposia with divisions other than
steward of the Edgar Fahs Smith Collection, Eva Arm-
Chemical Education, the most notable in 1958 being O.
strong (69). HIST celebrated the 50th anniversary of this
T. Benfey’s Kekulé-Couper Centennial on the “Develop-
award with a special symposium at the San Francisco
ment of Theoretical Organic Chemistry” (64).
ACS meeting in September, 2006 (70). Now named the
Sidney’s philosophy was pretty straightforward Sidney M. Edelstein Award for Outstanding Achievement
(62): in the History of Chemistry in Sidney’s memory, it is
The office was a powerful office because I could put funded in part by Edelstein’s daughter, Ruth Barish, with
together a program and push the president who would significant financial support from the Chemical Heri-
leave it up to me because nobody else was going to tage Foundation (CHF). Since Oesper and Armstrong
do the work. You cannot do everything by letting received their awards for service and a check for $500,
everybody decide everything, because nobody will the award has increased to $3,500. Most of the other
decide anything. There always has to be a person recipients have been serious scholars of chemical history,
who looks after and pushes and does things. I am and the award has gained recognition as the highest honor
proud of that. If I had not done that, we might not one can receive in the history of chemistry (71).
have a viable Division, with a number of people and
a lot of activities.
The Ihde Influence
It should also be noted that it was during Sidney’s time
that the first three sessions on Archaeological Chemistry In the early 1960s, HIST began to change again. Per-
were held, the first in 1950, which was chaired by Earle haps most notable was the presence of Aaron J. Ihde, an
R. Caley of Ohio State (65). There is no evidence that historian of chemistry who served as HIST chair from
Sidney was responsible for starting this, but he certainly 1962 through 1964. It was at the end of this tenure that
was an ardent supporter. This group continues to operate Aaron’s text, The Development of Modern Chemistry,
as a subdivision of HIST, and to date six volumes have was published, the first new book of its kind in many
been published in the archaeological chemistry series years (72). It greatly enhanced Aaron’s reputation as an
based on HIST symposia which take place approximately historian of chemistry, enabling him to attract to HIST
every five years (66). others for whom the history of chemistry was not just a
hobby, as it had often been for many since the days of
The Dexter Award Edgar Fahs Smith and Charles A. Browne (73).
In 1956 Sidney established an award whose full title Historical Chemistry Journal
was “The Dexter Chemical Corporation Award in the
History of Chemistry.” He felt strongly that there should Shortly after the Division was founded, Smith asked
be something to recognize people who did good work Browne whether “we could prevail on Dr. [Charles H.]
in the history of chemistry, and there was nothing like it Herty to give us a page of his journal [J. Ind. Eng. Chem.]
anywhere in the world. For Sidney, the recipient had to for the….history of science? (74).” This was followed by
have advanced the history of chemistry in one of three Smith’s musing that “for some reason I can’t free myself
ways—by publication of an important book or article, from the idea that we ought to have a Journal devoted
by the furtherance of the teaching of the history of to the interests of the history of chemistry (75).” When
chemistry, or by meritorious services over a long period Browne accompanied Arthur B. Lamb (the editor of The
of time which resulted in the advancement of the history Journal of the American Chemical Society) to the dedica-74 Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007)
tion of a new chemistry building at Dartmouth, he initi- through private donations, but no financial support could
ated talks about where history papers could be published be found after that, and the publication ceased after the
and found Lamb sympathetic to his plight (76), but Smith 1951 issue.
doubted Lamb’s associates would support history papers
Late in 1956 HIST revisited the idea of a journal of
in the Journal, “yet it ought to appear someplace where
the history of chemistry, but in the end decided to revive
it will meet the eyes of our entire membership (77).”
Chymia instead. The ACS Board approved the joint
Eventually, Smith gave up on using an existing ACS venture with the University of Pennsylvania, “with the
journal and proposed to Browne that the Section could understanding that the ACS would assume no financial
issue The American Journal of Historical Chemistry six responsibility and that the approval would continue “only
times a year with 48 pages per issue, setting the price at so long as Chymia is the official organ of the Division
$1.00 per annum to attract the high school and college (81).” HIST now appeared on the masthead along with
teachers and perhaps even students (78). Browne was the Smith Collection; Henry Leicester was the editor-in-
concerned about where the papers would come from for chief, and Sidney Edelstein was on the editorial board.
such a journal (79), but the ever optimistic Smith had That meant that for HIST to revive Chymia, it would need
“no misgivings on the subject matter for publication, to infuse the venture with hard cash. It is tantalizing to
but I would like to see right on the table $100,000, the suppose that HIST was not particularly flush to support
income from which could be applied to bringing this pet such a venture, but there had to be some financial sup-
scheme to light (80).” At the New Haven ACS meeting port forthcoming from somewhere. There is no official
in April, 1923 Smith told Browne he had asked William record to show just how HIST did finance this venture.
H. Nichols for that amount (34). This is an astonishing However, one name that has been mentioned is Denis I.
amount of money for that time, roughly equivalent to Duveen, an independently wealthy book collector who
$1 million in today’s dollars (2006). Smith said that he often spent time in the Smith Collection. Another is
considered such a journal one of the “greatest needs of Sidney Edelstein and the Dexter Chemical Company.
American chemistry” and that it was one of his fondest Interestingly, Chymia ceased publication again with
hopes to have such a journal (34). There is no evidence, volume 12 in 1967, just one year after Sidney left his
however, that Nichols gave Smith the money. position as secretary of HIST, a move he did not make
willingly (82).
More importantly, Smith did not reckon with the
young and energetic Neil Gordon, who was instrumental In 1988 this issue was taken up once again by Wil-
with Smith in founding CHED in 1921 (48). Gordon liam B. Jensen, then serving as HIST secretary. Desk-
started the Journal of Chemical Education in 1924. He top publishing had reduced production costs, but more
was committed to publishing papers in chemical history importantly, the history of chemistry was finding less
and even appointed Lyman Newell, who was then HIST acceptance in the more traditional chemical journals,
Secretary, to be the associate editor in charge of the his- especially the Journal of Chemical Education. Jensen
tory papers. For the time being HIST had an outlet for had become editor of the Division’s newsletter and had
its papers, and many appeared in the early volumes of the produced a few issues when he decided to expand it into
Journal. And even though chemical educators thought a regular publication. As a result, and with the support
that the history of chemistry had a place in the education of the Division and the Department of Chemistry of the
of chemistry students, the volume of their own papers University of Cincinnati and the Oesper Collections in
slowly pushed the history papers aside. the History of Chemistry, Jensen began in 1988 to publish
the Bulletin for the History of Chemistry, which incor-
In 1948 the first issue of Chymia appeared. De-
porated the Division’s newsletter. He did not intend to
signed as an annual volume for scholarly papers in the
compete with established historical journals of science
history of chemistry, Chymia was not a HIST publication,
like Ambix (83) and Isis.
but it was edited by a HIST member and other HIST
members were contributors. Chymia was sponsored Jensen reasoned that the majority of HIST members
by the Edgar Fahs Smith Memorial Collection at the were practicing chemists and teachers of chemistry “who
University of Pennsylvania, so in some respects Smith enjoyed reading general interest articles on the history
finally got his wish for an American publication devoted of chemistry but [were] prevented by other duties from
to the history of chemistry and fittingly sponsored by his engaging in full time historical research.” Rather than
own institution. But the University had agreed to fund it tackle the social and philosophical questions raised by
for only three years. The fourth volume was produced professional historians, Jensen wanted to reach chemistsBull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007) 75
by adding a time and depth-of-content dimension to their through had been achieved. The program was initially
understanding of the history of chemistry (84). When funded by the ACS Innovative Grant Program, the ACS
an objection relating to a paper in the Bulletin escalated Corporate Associates, and a private donation.
to legal issues, the Bulletin publication was temporarily
In 2006 one book, three patents, and six scientific
suspended until those issues were resolved, although no
publications were honored, including the pH meter in-
volumes were omitted. It was revived under the editor-
vented by Arnold O. Beckman, the discovery of Teflon by
ship of Paul R. Jones and has evolved over the years.
Roy J. Plunkett, Moses Gomberg’s paper on free radicals,
Originally papers were by invitation only, but now the
and F. Sherwood Rowland and Mario J. Molina’s paper
Bulletin is a fully refereed journal issued twice a year.
on the destruction of the ozone layer (87). Jeffrey I.
The HIST Executive Committee considers the Bulletin
Seeman, HIST Chair 2005–2006 and originator of the
so important to its members that the entire membership
award, explained that the award is intended to “celebrate
dues are used to support its production. It would be a
great scientific accomplishments and motivate, through
bargain at twice the price (85).
shared pride of achievement, all who walk by and see
the plaques. We hope they’ll say, ‘Wow! That was done
Awards here (87, 88)!’”
In 1992 the Division embarked on a program with the A third award program sponsored by HIST is simply
ACS Office of Public Outreach to recognize our scien- called the Outstanding Paper Award (89). It originated
tific and technical heritage through a series of plaques in 1984 with a grant from Raymond B. Seymour, a HIST
designating a site, artifact or collection as a National member who had for many years sponsored HIST sym-
Historical Chemical Landmark. Originally conceived posia on the history of polymer chemistry. The funding
as a public outreach effort to bring the achievements of came from the proceeds of his book resulting from a
the chemical community to the general public, by 2007 HIST symposium, The History of Polymer Science and
the program had made 56 awards throughout this coun- Engineering (90). Originally given for the best oral
try as well as international awards in England, Mexico, presentation at a HIST meeting, since 1989 it has been
Canada, France, and India. An advisory board receives given annually to the best paper published in the Bulletin
nominations from ACS local sections or divisions and for the History of Chemistry for the previous three-year
selects those that conform to the program criteria. period. The award consists of $100 and $150 in books
from the Chemical Heritage Foundation. It is noteworthy
It is indeed fitting that the Edgar Fahs Smith Collec-
that the 2006 award recipient shares a first name with a
tion was one of those accepted for a brass plaque now on
charter HIST member, Lyman C. Newell, and his topic
display in the University of Pennsylvania library. The
was in part one that was discussed at the first HIST meet-
Office of Public Outreach has been disbanded and the
ing 85 years ago (91).
program is now run out of the Office of Communications.
The original advisory committee is now an ad hoc com-
mittee of the ACS Board of Directors, and HIST is no Other Activities
longer an official sponsor; but from the beginning, HIST
In addition to giving awards, the Division has in recent
members have always constituted a part of the member-
years won two ChemLuminary Awards from the ACS.
ship of the advisory committee (86).
The first, in 2003, was for “See and Be Seen,” a program
In 2006 the Division embarked on another program to help support HIST members giving a historical paper
that involves the awarding of plaques, but with a differ- at a regional meeting and thus help promote history at
ent purpose in mind (87). While the ACS Landmarks regional meetings, an area that frequently is omitted
Program focuses on nominations that would be of inter- from regional meeting programming (92). The second,
est to the general public and with plaques prominently in 2006, was given for the initiation of the Citation for
displayed in public areas, the new HIST award, called Chemical Breakthroughs program and the piano concert
Citation for Chemical Breakthroughs, is addressed to (93). The latter was a HIST-initiated and -organized
chemists. The program recognizes publications, books, event at the Washington ACS meeting (cosponsored with
and patents worldwide in the field of chemistry that CHF). It was the first Annual Fall ACS National Meeting
have been revolutionary in concept, broad in scope, and Music Concert, attended by 400 people and reviewed by
long-term in impact. The award consists of a plaque that the Washington Post. The concert featured chemist-pia-
is placed near the office or laboratory where the break- nist Victoria Bragin playing works by chemist-composer76 Bull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007)
Alexander Porf’irovich Borodin. A second concert was It is difficult to tell in retrospect which authors did that,
held in the fall of 2006 at the national meeting in San and even today valuable scholarship presented before the
Francisco. Division is being lost. However, in 2006, the Division
signed an agreement with the Chemical Heritage Foun-
Other Divisional Activities dation to preserve its archives, which, unfortunately, are
extremely meager in the early years. A records retention
A piano concert is not the first unusual project undertaken policy has been established by HIST and a grant received
by HIST. Beginning in Chicago in 1985, HIST started from the ACS Division Activities Committee in 2006
producing postal cachets that featured ACS presidents will provide support to organize the HIST archives and
and a logo of sorts identifying the city in which the develop a model that might be followed by other ACS
meeting was held. The cachets featured past stamps divisions. This work has just begun. Perhaps the Divi-
with a chemistry theme—the 1951 ACS stamp, the 1976 sion may yet fulfill Browne’s wish about disappearing
chemistry stamp, and the 1983 Priestley stamp. HIST unpublished papers.
was sharing a booth with the Chemical Heritage Foun-
dation in the exhibit hall at the time, and adjacent to the The Chemical Heritage Foundation
booth was a U.S. Post Office substation. The cachets
were hand-cancelled by the post office with a cancellation In 1965 the American Institute of Physics (AIP) ap-
designed by a HIST member and featuring the ACS logo. proached the ACS about jointly forming a facility for
Cachets were sold as a fund raiser for the division, and documenting the history of the physical sciences. The
even now they show up on eBay. This was done for every ACS in turn gave the proposal to HIST, which under the
ACS meeting for about ten years, when the problems in leadership of Wyndham D. Miles as Chair and Sidney M.
dealing with the United States Post Office became insur- Edelstein as Secretary rejected the idea. Instead, they
mountable and the program was discontinued. But there wanted a History of Chemistry Center that would look
was a serious side to this program as well. While the at the entire history of chemistry, not just the recent or
cachets were being sold at the HIST booth, a paper was current history that interested the AIP. Nothing came of
being presented in the HIST general session on the ACS the idea until it was revived by HIST chair William J.
president featured on the cachet. These papers covered Wiswesser and chair-elect John H. Wotiz in 1979. They
the ACS presidents in a different light from the standard convinced ACS President Gardner W. Stacy to fund a
biographical sketches published in ACS histories. The task force that would visit a number of potential sites for
focus was not just on their chemical achievements, but such a center, study other such facilities, and formulate
in fact and more importantly, what led to their being objectives. The group reported to the HIST membership
considered worthy of the ACS presidency and what they at the fall 1979 ACS meeting in Washington, and the
accomplished as ACS president. This resulted in a set membership responded with an enthusiastic and unani-
of interesting papers covering the first quarter-century mous resolution calling on the ACS to establish a Center
of the society. Unfortunately, none of these papers has [Office] for the [Contemporary] History of Chemistry.
been published, which is too often the case with HIST
This was followed by a symposium at the ACS
ACS meeting papers.
meeting in Houston in March, 1980 organized by Wotiz
Back in 1937 Browne, noting this fact, lamented and titled “The Chemistry Profession Needs a Center for
that much of the original scholarship that went into the History of Chemistry.” Since this was intended to
the early HIST papers was never published, and quite be an ACS operation, most thought it would be run out
frequently the manuscripts were lost forever when their of the Washington headquarters. However, at Houston
author died (34): Arnold Thackray made an alternative suggestion—to
In order to prevent such occurrences from arising house the new center at the University of Pennsylvania
in the future, I would like to suggest that copies of in Philadelphia. He noted that Penn already housed the
all unpublished papers read before the Division be Edgar Fahs Smith Collection in the History of Chemistry,
deposited for safe-keeping and future reference with housed the editorial offices of Isis, and had an outstanding
the Edgar Fahs Smith Collection at the University of History and Sociology of Sciences Department.
Pennsylvania. Users of such material would…give
the same credit for their sources of information as in Ensuing discussions at various levels within HIST
the case of published articles. and the ACS culminated in final approval at the Decem-
ber, 1982 ACS Board of Directors’ meeting that formedBull. Hist. Chem., VOLUME 32, Number 2 (2007) 77
the Center for the History of Chemistry at the University REFERENCES AND NOTES
Pennsylvania with Arnold Thackray as its director. In
1. Presented in part at the 196th National Meeting of the
2007 the Center, which has now become the Chemical
American Chemical Society, Los Angeles, CA, Septem-
Heritage Foundation, will celebrate its 25th anniversary.
ber 1988 (Abstract HIST 014) and the 233rd National
While CHF owes much of its current organization to the Meeting of the American Chemical Society, Chicago, IL,
energies and talents of Thackray and others associated March, 2007 (Abstract HIST 038). This paper is the first
with him, there is no question that the efforts of John in a series of projected papers on the history of HIST.
Wotiz and HIST were instrumental in nurturing and 2. There are a number of past accounts of the early history of
giving birth to the idea of a history center until it came HIST. See, for example, L. C. Newell, “Historical Sketch
to fruition (94). of the Division of the History of Chemistry, American
Chemical Society,” J. Chem. Educ., 1932, 9, 667–669;
C. A. Browne, “The Past and Future of the History of
HIST in the 21st Century Chemistry Division,” J. Chem. Educ., 1937, 14, 503–515;
and C. A. Browne, “Contributions of the Divisions: His-
This brief review of HIST and its activities for the past tory of Chemistry,” in C. A. Browne and M. E. Weeks, A
85 years brings us to the earlier question of what have History of the American Chemical Society: Seventy-five
we done with the legacy passed on to us by our founders, Eventful Years, American Chemical Society, Washington
Edgar Fahs Smith and Charles A. Browne. What would DC, 1952, 288–290.
they say of our stewardship 85 years later? The answer 3. The official name was the World’s Columbian Exposition.
is found in two major documents. The first is the HIST See http://users.vnet.net/schulman/Columbian/colum-
Mission statement, adopted in 2006, which can be found bian.html (accessed May 30, 2007).
4. Chemistry and the ACS played an important role in this
elsewhere in this issue. The second is a State-of-HIST
grand affair. See J. J. Bohning, “A Center of Crystalliza-
statement issued by HIST Chair Jeffrey I. Seeman as he tion in a Molecular Mélange: The 1893 World’s Congress
completed his two-year term of office at the end of 2006. of Chemists,” Bull. Hist. Chem., 1989, No. 3, 16–21.
He points out that: HIST is on a sound financial basis with 5. T. Thomson, The History of Chemistry, H. Colburn
resources leveraged to their maximum value. There is a and R. Bentley, London, 1830–31. For high-quality
modern web site which is constantly evolving to provide scanned images from these volumes, see http://othmer-
its membership current information as well as serve as a lib.chemheritage.org/search?/athomson%2C+thomas/
historical resource tool (95). There is a new logo which athomson+thomas/1%2C1%2C20%2CB/frameset&FF=a
is on all HIST documents and is explained elsewhere in thomson+thomas+1773+1852&11%2C%2C20 (accessed
this issue. Programming continues to be vibrant, includ- May 30, 2007).
6. The first American text appears to be a little known work
ing ACS Presidential symposia and others that have on
by F. P. Venable, A Short History of Chemistry, D. C.
some occasions received coverage in Chem. Eng. News. Heath & Co., New York, 1894, which went through three
External funding continues to enhance division activities. editions. I thank Prof. Seymour H. Mauskopf for calling
The Division’s Bulletin continues to be one superb issue this to my attention.
after another. Strong relationships have been developed 7. F. J. Moore, A History of Chemistry, McGraw-Hill Book
with the ACS and CHF at several different levels. Co., Inc., New York, 1918.
8. T. L. Davis, “F. J. Moore–Historian of Chemistry,” J. Ind.
“HIST’s greatest strength,” Seeman concludes, “is Eng. Chem., 1927, 19, 1066.
its members and our diversity of interests, experiences, 9. For the status of history of chemistry courses in the 1920s,
and talents. At the same time, the Executive Commit- see E. F. Smith, “Observations on Teaching the History
tee shares a commitment to HIST, a passion to support of Chemistry,” J. Chem. Educ., 1925, 2, 533–555; L. C.
HIST’s mission, and our promises to our members and Newell, “A Tested Method of Teaching the History of
the ACS.” Chemistry,” J. Chem. Educ., 1926, 3, 166–169; and W.
A. Noyes, “The Teaching of the History of Chemistry,”
I submit that this reflects accurately what Smith J. Chem. Educ., 1926, 3, 560–561.
and Browne would have wanted the division to achieve 10. This concept was later emphasized by A. J. Ihde, “Let’s
when they set us out on that long path 85 years ago. Teach History of Chemistry to Chemists,” J. Chem. Educ.,
They would, I believe, be proud of what we have done, 1971, 48, 686–687.
11. See, for example, B. Jaffe, “The History of Chemistry
are doing, and will do in the future. “After all, we study
and its Place in the Teaching of High School Chemistry,”
the past that we may understand the present and judge J. Chem. Educ., 1938, 15, 383–389; B. Jaffe, “Using the
wisely of the future (7).” History of Chemistry in Our Teaching,” J. Chem. Educ.,You can also read
